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James Madison- Virginia


Federalist

Madison got his education from Princeton. When he returned home, he still had not found a suitable career. He pursued law to broaden his spectrum of knowledge but knew that he did not want to go into law. From there he was elected to the county Committee of Safety which his father chaired. Next he was a colonel in the Orange County Militia, however he never fought due to his fragile health. Just after that is when he started to get involved with various committees for the government. He married Dolley Todd, and they had a healthy relationship, and lived amongst the middle class.

Madison was a member of the Constitutional Convention and he also drafted much of the Constitution. In addition, not only did he take an active role in the debate, but also took notes on almost everything that happened in each session. He was named Father of the Constitution for his vital role in the Constitutional Convention, and ultimately in the foundation and ideas that the Constitution was built on. Madison was said to have been the single most important person at the Constitutional Convention because of everything that he brought to the table.

His contributions to the creation of the Constitution extended far beyond his prominent role in the Constitutional Convention. He wrote many papers, pamphlets and essays supporting the ratification of the Constitution and telling people of the benefits of the Constitution over the present Articles of Confederation. His pieces along with those of Alex Hamilton and John Jay combined to make up the Federalist Papers. He supported a strong central government, and in his papers he denied many of the fears that a strong central government would get rid of individual freedoms.

Madison was a member of Virginia’s state ratifying convention. He led the pro-ratification force against Patrick Henry’s opposing force, and narrowing won with an 89-79 vote. He clearly voted to ratify the Constitution. Because of this close and sensitive election and other issues that the two disagreed on over time, Madison made strong enemies with Patrick Henry.

Three people that Madison made useful resources with over time were Alex Hamilton, John Jay and John Adams. Hamilton and Jay especially due to their alliance and shared ideas about the Federalist Papers, and Adams because they shared many of the same thoughts and ideas, and agreed on many things about the founding of the new nation.






Works Cited
DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 7th ed. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade Books Inc., 2009. Print.
"DOLLEY MADISON." Home Articles Author. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/article1051.html>.
James, Madison. "To The People of the Sate of New York." Publius (Federalist no. 51) (1788). Print.
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